The White Sox have signed 35-year old righty starting pitcher Bartolo Colon to a 1-year contract and they have penciled him in as the team’s #5 starter. He pitched in 7 games (all starts) last season with the Red Sox and he was 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Colon has now pitched in 316 games (313 starts) in his major league career and he is 150-97 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. This was worth the risk as Colon still appears to have some gas left in the tank as long as he can stay healthy.

The White Sox have signed outfielder Michael Restovich and pitchers Ryan Braun and Franklyn German to minor league deals. 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Michael Restovich played in 48 games in Japan last season and he was 25 for 112 (.223 avg, .645 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers and 17 RBIs. He has also played in 152 games in his major league career in which he is 64 for 268 (.239 avg, .690 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 6 homers and 21 RBIs. 28-year old righty reliever Ryan Braun did not pitch at all last season due to injury. He has pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 2-1 with a 6.66 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. 28-year old righty reliever Franklyn German pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 1-3 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He has now played in 155 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 9-7 with 7 saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. German has good stuff but he can’t control it as evidenced by his 119 walks in 158.2 innings pitched in his major league career. These guys will all likely start the season in AAA ball for the White Sox in 2009.

The Chicago White Sox have invited 32-year old righty swinging catcher Corky Miller to spring training. He played in 31 games for the Braves last season and he was 5 for 60 (.083 avg, .285 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs. Miller has now played in 132 games in his major league career and he is 59 for 335 (.176 avg, .554 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 8 homers and 35 RBIs. The White Sox better hope that Miller doesn’t win the backup job at catcher because he’s a pretty awful baseball player.

The White Sox have signed 29-year old righty reliever Brad Salmon to a minor league deal. Salmon pitched in 47 games (4 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 8-7 with 3 saves, a 4.62 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has also pitched in 26 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. This was a nice little signing for the White Sox as Salmon could help them out of the bullpen in 2009.

The White Sox have signed 26-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Stewart to a minor league deal. Stewart played in 1 game for the Yankees last season and he was 0 for 3 (.000 avg). He has now played in 24 games in his major league career and he is 9 for 48 (.188 avg, .464 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Stewart will likely get a chance to battle for the backup catcher job in 2009.

The White Sox have signed 32-year old lefty swinging 1B Brian Myrow to a minor league deal. Myrow played in 21 games with the Padres last season and he was 3 for 21 (.143 avg, .494 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Myrow has now played in 52 games in his major league career and he is 8 for 51 (.157 avg, .534 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. His weakness in the majors thus far has been making contact as he has whiffed 17 times already in this career. This was a depth signing for the White Sox and nothing more.